Show Us Your Life ~ Favorite Holiday Recipes

Hey y'all!  Today (a little late) I'm linking up with Kelly's Korner to talk about our favorite Holiday recipes.

I don't know about you, but when I think of Holiday recipes, I immediately think about sweets!  Chocolate!!

One of the easiest and pretty yummy too, are the rolo pretzels. 

I've seen a couple of different recipes, but I always stick to the oven version.  Put a rolo onto a square pretzel and in a 350 degree oven for 3 to 5 minutes, and top with another square pretzel.  Easy!!

White Chocolate Christmas Party Mix!!  Oh my goodness!  This is a must for our family during the Holidays.  The recipe makes a ton, so I always make gifts for neighbors and everyone else (if there is any left).

You can find the recipe here.

Another chocolate favorite is Crockpot Candy!

Very easy and very good!  This is another great recipe that makes a perfect neighbor gift.  It makes a ton and it really is good!

You can find the recipe here.

I'm looking forward to seeing your recipes too!

'Tis The Season

Hey y'all!  Christmas time is here! A time for giving, a time for cheer.

I will be doing a giving away on my closed Facebook group tomorrow.  So, if you are not a member, you may want to join.

Send me a request here to join.  

You may win this....

The Hoo's Chilly Medium Utility Tote!  This item is no longer available to purchase, so go ahead join us!

Hope to see you there!

Christmas time is here

 Hey y'all!  Are you ready for Christmas?

As for the decorations, we are done, but gifts are another story.  I have bought several, but still have several to go.

What about Christmas cards?  Have you sent yours or even ordered them?  I'm just not sure this year.  We sent 50 cards last year and received about 20.  I know that is not the point, but what I'm saying is, it appears people are not doing cards any more.

What do you think? 

Richett has been a very busy Elf.  Sitting in our tree, playing with remote control cars, and snacking on cuties!

Do you have an Elf for your little one?  

What are their names? And what fun tricks have they played? 

A Special Visitor

Hey y'all!

We have welcomed a special visitor into our home.

Yep! The Elf on the Shelf!

We decided for him to make his appearance before we put up the Christmas decorations.  We actually read the book to Mason a couple of times, talked about what was going to happen, and explained why the Elf was coming to our house. 

Mason wasn't sure what to expect, but now that he has seen the Elf, he is very excited.  

Once the Elf made his appearance, Mason had to give him a name.  After going through about 10 different names, Mason finally decided on Richett.

He came up with the name all on his own.  There is a character on Peppa Pig named Richard and with their British accents, it sounds like they are saying Richett.  So when Mason said Richett, it took us a minute to figure out what his was saying.  

This morning (day 2) he ran into my room and said, "Mommy, Richett is in the bathroom, and wrote me a note".  So excited!  

We are all curious to see what Richett has in store for us.  And are very excited to get ready for Christmas.

Mason is very excited to see Santa.  He has been looking through magazines making his wish list and circling toys. 

Yesterday Mason sang in Church with his preschool class.  He did an awesome job. We are so proud of our little boy!

I can't tell you how precious it was seeing all of the children on stage singing.  I was amazed by all of them and how well behaved they all were.  Not only did they listen and follow directions, they all were singing their little hearts out!  We loved every moment!  

 

Celebrating today

Today is a day of celebration and honoring those who have served and are currently serving our country!  Thank you for your sacrifices and for your hard work.  We appreciate you! 

There's a snake in my boots!

BOO to you!

 

Fall Festivities

Happy Fall Y'all!

Are you enjoying this Fall season so far?  This is our favorite time of year and so far, we are having a great time.

We went with our friends to a local nursery to visit the pumpkin patch.  This is the same place we went last year.  We fed the fish, chickens, goats, and donkey.  It was actually very hot and humid this day, so we were all a bit miserable.

Poor Mason fell in the driveway before we left.  The bad part is, he had fallen a few days prior and re opened the same sores.  He was so upset, but insisted we still go get pumpkins.  We had to the bring the wagon because he said he couldn't walk.  HA!   

Mason is so good with animals.  I, of course, am freaking out in the background.  Be careful, be gentle...  I'm so scared the animals are going to bite him! 

There was a new addition to the nursery this year.  Sunflowers!  They were beautiful!  The kids loved them too!

 Buddies...  Jack and Mason

 Our friends came over for a playdate and lunch.  We always have a great time with our friends.  Especially when there are cupcakes involved!

 Everyone decorated their own cupcake.  Mason has enough sprinkles for 10 cupcakes!  

I also had my first vendor fair.  A very cute company in Cary was having a Fall festival and I was able to set up a table for Thirty-One.  It was very nice to get my name out there and meet people.  

My biggest fans came with me to the Fall festival.  They look thrilled. HA!  Actually they did have fun for about the first 2 hours, but then I still had 2 more hours left.  They were definitely ready to go by then!  HA! 

Looking a Bruiser, one would think it is Winter and not Fall!  He is so funny!  Actually, he had just had a bath, so he was ready to catch a nap!  

And of course, Fall is not complete without baking.  This picture doesn't do these muffins justice.  Yummy Pumpkin Spice Muffins! 

 

Past Halloweens

This can't be our 5th Halloween with Mason, but guess what?  It is!!  

I've been thinking about his costume for this year. Yes, I know.  I should have gotten it already.  Of course, I had to look back at our baby boy!  

How cute he was in the past Halloweens?!! 

I mean really!  I don't know if we top any of these!

Have you decided on a costume yet for your children?

How many years?

Hey y'all!  I just recently took a trip to Minnesota to visit my high school bestie, Kristi.  We talked and talked, and cooked, shopped, and talked.  HA!

And we went to a parade!

 

Through our conversations, we realized we have been friends for almost 25 years!  She was 15 and I was 14.  Seriously!?  It was so surreal holding her baby.  Looking at Kristi, I still see a 15 year old.  I'm sure she would appreciate that! HA!

I wasn't sure what to expect when visiting Minnesota.  Honestly, I was only going to see Kristi and Brayleigh, but let me tell ya, it is beautiful country.  Everything was so green and healthy looking.  Almost like our Spring here in NC.  Normally for us, by the end of the summer, the grass is turning brown, plants are dried up, and the flowers are gone because of the heat and no rain.  

We went to a craft fair (that's what I call it).  I guess, a Fall festival type of event.  Really neat.  Everything was set up in barns.  You walk through and shop.  

 

 

 

And of course no trip to MN is complete without visiting the Mall of America.  I'm not much of a shopper, especially in a mall, but this was a must see!

Lego Land 

 Yes!  Those are all legos!  I've never seen so many!

 

An amusement park, inside the mall!

 

Shrimp anyone? Bubba Gump restaurant!  There were a TON of restaurants in the Mall.

Kristi also took me to Cabela's.  

 

What a neat place?!  It was more like a museum and aquarium. 

I was thrilled to see this little one....

 

And enjoyed every moment with Kristi!

I can't wait until my next visit!